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A review by kadomi
The Belly of the Bow by K.J. Parker
3.0
Not as good as the first book, this middle book of the Fencer trilogy (very misguiding name) continues the saga of the Loredan siblings that started in the first book. After the fall of Perimadeia Bardas settles on Shona, safely away from his siblings Niessa and Gorgas who run the show on Shona. They have established a bank that rivals the one of the Foundation in Shastel. The Foundation has a lot of military might and a long arm, and so a war breaks out. On either side, we have users of the Principle, the strange magic system of this world that seems to be about influencing history at crucial points.
Pretty much all the major characters from the first book are brought back, and new characters are introduced, and the magic system still makes my head hurt. It's still a fascinating story from the glimpses you get, but it's very hidden this time under thick layers of philosophy, detailed descriptions of warfare of helbardiers versus archers, and as the title suggests, the greatest detail about bowmaking.
It also has a shocking finish that made me gape slack-jawed, and that doesn't happen very often. I am still invested into the series, but I need a break now.
If this is KJ Parker's first work which has greatly improved, I shall read more, for sure.
Pretty much all the major characters from the first book are brought back, and new characters are introduced, and the magic system still makes my head hurt. It's still a fascinating story from the glimpses you get, but it's very hidden this time under thick layers of philosophy, detailed descriptions of warfare of helbardiers versus archers, and as the title suggests, the greatest detail about bowmaking.
It also has a shocking finish that made me gape slack-jawed, and that doesn't happen very often. I am still invested into the series, but I need a break now.
If this is KJ Parker's first work which has greatly improved, I shall read more, for sure.